Guest Editorial: Celebrating 198 Years of the Black Press

Continuing to ‘Plead Our Cause,’ One Story at a Time Last weekend, members of the Black Press gathered in the District to celebrate the 198th anniversary of African American media and to consider the steps required to ensure their future for the next 200 years. From humble beginnings, the Black Press, under the umbrella of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), has grown from the New York-based Freedom’s Journal, first published March 16, 1827, to about 258 publications across multiple media platforms. During Black Press Day, March 13, NNPA President and CEO Benjamin Chavis Jr. addressed his colleagues on the campus of Howard University, reminding them about the importance of remaining “on the front lines of authentic journalism, reporting factual news.” “Since 1827, the Black Press has continued to be an active advocate for freedom, justice, equality, empathy and empowerment,” Chavis said. “[But] the pseudo-ideology of white supremacy has not changed. We have to represent and touch our people, our communities and they have to know that when we’re out there on the front line, we represent their interests.” And while Chavis noted that even in this digital age, print media remains the foundation and the heart of the Black...